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Hair on Fire
“We all need a little madness, or we will never cut
the rope and be free.”--Alexis Zorba.
When passion is accelerated, it becomes madness,
or when love overrides logic--when inebriation turns
into belligerence, when getting in line leads to the
edge of a cliff, when disgust with politics can lead
to Trumpler, when loneliness morphs to despair,
when lust is an invitation to rape, when pride
causes estrangement, when ignorance leads to
cruelty, when speed becomes disaster, when a
flock of ducks can bring down an airliner--
it’s madness, all madness; mantled as a jester.
a lover, a spoiler, a killer, a relative, a friend, a law,
an edict, a commandment, a hand shake, an
embrace, or a world--madness, all madness.
We must recognize
madness as friend or foe, for
it awaits us all.
Glenn Buttkus
Haibun
Posted over at dVerse Poets Pub
12 comments:
There are many types of madness, and though we all might go a bit mad at times, people do use these excuses, don't they for reprehensible behavior?
But mob madness can truly be lethal.
So much of what is considered madness is simply the labeling the parts of human nature that we don't want to accept about ourselves.
Masterfully written. You've managed to wrap up so much of the madness of the world in this piece, and structured it across the two stanzas in such a distinct way. Really powerful.
A montage of madness you've crafted here! Well done!
This is a bleak message. We must hold onto sanity.
Full of anger and mad-ness on your part as well. You're mad as hell and you aren't going to take it anymore. BTW haibun does not have page breaks.
"it awaits us all" and hopefully helps sculpts us but doesn't define us. Intense poem, Glenn. Well done.
Good situation to avoid: "when getting in line leads to the
edge of a cliff" Unless its a very shallow cliff, but most of them aren't.
Oh, your take on the madness is quite enthralling. I really love the quote and all that follows in your proclamations — it's almost like a chant emphasizing on the grips of this madness that prevails anywhere and everywhere. It reminded me of this song in the context of this particular movie.
Wonderful writing!
So damned well put Glenn. It is a mad world, and only the truely mad don’t realize it. One must learn to live on the edge of madness, without being sucked in. Here is a great warning sign. The moment you think life is wonderful - you’ve bevome certifiable. As Tears for Fears points out, “It’s a Mad World”. Pink Floyd understands thst “We’re All Mad Here” so shine on you crazy diamond! Rage on Glenn, rage on!!
Madness come in so many hues... and sometimes a just cause change it to its opposite... that is madness
Geeezzz! Well captured.
Pat
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